Iron lifter for seam busters



May 12, 1970 H. 1.. THOMPSON IRON LIFTER FOR SEAM BUSTERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed v 22. 1969 NW 1mm L mH G U H E M A TORNEYS May 12, 1970 H. L. THOMPSON 3,510,972

mow LIFTER FOR SEAN BUSTERS Filed May 22, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AIR CYLINDER 2 2| AIR R AIR coNTRoL F| ow CONTROL f REGULATOR VALVE VALVE I I N ID SOLE o \35 23 \-Lsw 4293 STEAM FIG 5 SOURCE INVENTOR HUGH L. THOMPSON BY W ATTORNEYS United States Patent 015w 3,510,972 Patented May 12, 1970 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The iron lifter for seam busters comprises an upright carrying a vertically adjustable sleeve, and a horizontal rod has one end fixed in said sleeve overlying the pair of bucks of the seam buster. A trolley is reciprocably mounted on the rod and an air cylinder is pivotally suspended from the trolley. A piston in the cylinder has a piston rod extending below the air cylinder and a steam iron is pivotally connected with the lower end of the piston rod. A micro-switch on the iron controls the flow of steam into the iron, and a solenoid controlled valve controls the flow of compressed air into the cylinder below the piston, the micro-switch simultaneously operating the solenoid valve, whereby when the micro-switch is released the cylinder will normally maintain the iron raised to engage the uppermost buck, and when closed the iron will be lowered by the cylinder to engage the lowermost buck.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION This invention is a novel iron lifter for use in conjunction with seam busters in order to render it unnecessary for the operator to manually lift the weight of the hand steam iron when pressing pants leg seams, this being accomplished by suspending the iron from an overhead trolley to allow lateral movement of the suspending linkage, and by inserting a light-weight air cylinder in the suspending linkage which can be controlled electrically by the operator to lift the iron when necessary and to lower it when necessary onto the upper and lower bucks of the seam buster.

In using a hand iron in pressing open pants seams with the use of a seam buster, the operator may press seams at two different levels and the object of my iron lifter is to lift the weight of the iron from the low position to the high position utilizing an air cylinder and thus relieving the operator from the task of lifting this Weight every time he or she presses the seams of the pants, the lifting according to my invention being accomplished through the use of an air cylinder.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an iron lifter especially adapted for use in conjunction with the seam buster such as disclosed in my U.S. Letters Pat. No. 3,366,292 issued Ian. 30, 1968, although my iron lifter is not necessarily restricted to use with seam busters of this particular type. When used with the seam buster as shown in my Pat. 3,366,292 the air cylinder will hold the iron at the top of the stroke of the air cylinder so that the operator may start to press the seam on the upper buck after actuating the micro-switch which turns the steam into the steam iron. This actuation of the micro-switch also releases the air in the air cylinder so that when the iron comes off of the upper buck it will lower to permit pressing of the seam on the lower buck. After the seam on the lower buck is pressed and the thumb is removed from the micro-switch it cuts off the steam and lets compressed air pass into the air cylinder, thereby raising the iron to the level of the upper buck for the next pants seam to be pressed.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one practical embodiment thereof, to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view looking at the front face of the seam buster showing my novel iron lifter located in conjunction therewith.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the carriage which supports the steam iron.

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the parts shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the means for introducing the air into the air cylinder which raises and lowers the steam iron.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, my novel iron lifter is shown in conjunction with a seam buster such as disclosed in my U.S. Letters Patent No. 3,366,292 issued Jan. 30, 1968, said seam buster comprising a machine for pressing open the inner and outer leg seams of a pair of pants or similar garment, the machine including a pedestal A, an oscillatory head B, a shaft C for mounting the head B on the pedestal A for movement about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation. The oscillatory head B carries a pair of pressing bucks D, D' for sleeving thereover the respective leg portions of a pair of pants, each of the bucks D having pressing faces on opposite sides thereof adapted to back the respective outer and inner seams of the pants leg. The bucks D, D are mounted on the head B in substantially spaced-apart parallel relation with pressing faces on common sides of the respective bucks located in spaced parallel planes on opposite sides of the axis of rotation of the head. The machine further includes means for effecting oscillation of the head B to bring simultaneously the common faces of the pair of pressing bucks D, D alternately uppermost to first support an inner seam of one pants leg and the outer seam of the other pants leg, or to support the outer seam of said one leg and the inner seam of the othervsaid leg in pressing position without removal of the garment from the bucks.

Pants are sewed wrong-side-out and before the manufacturer turns them right-side-out he must press the edges of the cloth open to do a good job, this pressing operation being commonly known as seam busting. In all cases the actual pressing of the seam is done by an operator with his hand steam iron. The seam buster shown in my aforementioned patent utilizes electricity, compressed air, steam and vacuum. The electricity is used to control a valve in the compressed air line. The compressed air operates a piston in a cylinder which in turn causes the shaft C to oscillate through The vacuum is used to dry the seam and help hold it fiat on the buck. The shaft C is attached to the head B in which are fastened the two bucks D, D, which are long enough to receive the pants legs. The shaft C oscillates through 180 causing the top of the bucks to be uppermost and then the bottom of the bucks to be uppermost. Steam is utilized to heat the bucks by running through same.

In operation of the seam buster shown in my aforesaid patent, the operator will pick up a pair of pants and pull the respective legs over the bucks D, D of the seam buster, in which position the outseams of the pants leg pulled over the upper buck D will lay on the top of that buck while the inseam of the pants leg pulled over the lower buck D will lay on the top of that buck, the seams being in position for pressing. Then, after the operator has pressed the outseam and inseam so positioned, he will touch a micro-switch on the hand iron E or touch micro-switch 31 located adjacent the base of the pedestal A 'with his foot (as hereinafter described), and the bucks will be rotated through an arc of 180, thus turning the bucks over, and what was formerly the bottom of the two bucks D, D is now the top, and the outseam of the pants leg which has had its inseam pressed is now mounted on the top of the buck which is nowin the upper buck osi: tion, and the inseam of the other leg is on the top of the buck in the lower buck position, these seams being now in position to be pressed.

My novel iron lifter associated with the seam buster above described consists of a tubular upright 1 having a base 1a mounted upon a base plate 2 of the pedestal 4 but disposed at the side of the pedestal A opposite from the bucks D, D, as shown. Upright 1 receives a vertically adjustable rod 3 supported therein, extending above the height of the pedestal A. On the rod 3 is a sleeve 4, FIG. 1, vertically adjustable by means of a handscrew 5, sald sleeve carrying a horizontal rod 6 having its ends 6a secured in the sleeve 4, rod 6 being disposed over the bucks D and extending to substantially the outer ends thereof, as shown. The outer end of the rod 6 carries a cl1p 7, and a tie rod 8 has one end secured in the clip 7 and its other end secured in a clip 9 carried by the sleeve 4 so as to stiffen the rod 6 for supporting the trolley.

On the rod 6 is a trolley consisting of a vertical plate 10 disposed adjacent the rod 6, said plate 6 having a pair of spaced pins 11 and 12 extending therefrom carrying grooved upper rollers 13-13 respectively which engage and ride upon the upper portion of the rod 6. The bottom edge of plate 10 extends below the rod 6, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and carries a pair of spaced studs 14 and 15 respectively upon which are journaled a pair of lower grooved rollers 16, which engage the underside of the rod 6 below rollers 13, thereby forming a trolley adapted to traverse the rod 6. If desired, a plate 17 may overlie the upper pair of grooved pulleys 13, as shown in FIG. 4, the plate having its ends curved downwardly as at 17a to overlie the upper grooved rollers 13 respectively.

On the axis of plate 10 are a pair of downwardly converging straps 18 and 19 respectively carrying a pivot bolt 20 which is pivotally connected to the upper end of an air cylinder 21, cylinder 21 having a piston 22 therein, FIGS. 3 and 4, connected to a rod 23, the lower end of which is pivotally connected with a link 24, the lower end of which is connected with the .front portion of the steam 1ron E hereinbefore referred to, whereby the iron E may be raised, as hereinafter explained, from its position on the lower buck D to its position on the upper buck D by air pressure, and vice versa, thus relieving the operator of the necessity of raising or lowering the iron E, which may weigh from three to fifteen pounds, by hand.

Extending from the sleeve 4 at an angle of about 30 from the axis of the bucks D, D, to the side of the bucks opposite from where the operator is standing, is a horizontal rod 25, and to the outer end of the rod 25 is secured the upper end of a spring 26, the lower end of which carries a loop or eye 27 receiving in the form of a wide loop the electric wire 28 and the steam line 29 leading from the upper end of the pedestal A to the iron E, the spring 26 maintaining the wire 28 and conduit 29 out of the way of the operator pressing the pants seams on the bucks D and D, as shown in FIG. 2.

On the iron E is a micro-switch 30 in position to be operated by the thumb of the operator pressing the pants seam. On the base plate 2 is a foot micro-switch 31 conveniently located so that the operator can activate it with his foot, switch 31 controlling the oscillation of the seam buster bucks D, D.

As shown in FIG. 1, compressed air taken from the air duct in the pedestal A may flow through pipe 32 into an air regulator 33 disposed on the front face of the pedestal A, FIG. 1, which air regulator 33 regulates the air pressure passing to a control valve 34, which valve is operated by an electric solenoid 35. Air from the control valve 34 may travel through pipe 36 to the flow control valve 37 mounted on the upright rod 3, the air passing from thence through coiled tube 38 and into t e lower end of the air cylinder 21 below the piston 22. Normally the air under piston 22 iS U de Pmssure so as to mamtam D. The microswitch 30 located on the-electric-iron E operates the solenoid 35 to shut olf the pressurized air from the cylinder 21 permitting the iron to be lowered. With all adjustments properly adjusted the operator can control by manipulating micro-switch 30 the air cylinder speeds by lifting the iron up and down, the speed of lifting up and down being controlled by air pressure in lifting, and by adjustment on the air cylinder in lowering. The thumb switch 30 on the steam iron E can, if desired, also control the flow of steam into the steam iron E and also operate the valve in the vacuum line leading to the seam buster, and also operate the solenoid 35 controlling the air going to the air cylinder 21 which lifts and lowers the steam iron E. These three things should happen simultaneously. In other words, the steam should flow into the iron E, the vacuum should pull through the bucks, and the iron lifter cylinder 21 should lower the iron E onto either the top or lower buck. When the steam and vacuum are off the iron E should lift to the top of its stroke. This iron lifter can be used on any type of seam buster so that the hook-up could be varied. Some seam busters would not have vacuum to be controlled; some might have a pan in which the iron would rest when not in use. The weight of the iron on the pan could control a switch to cut off the steam flow. With my iron lifter the iron can hang suspended from the iron lifter link 24 without resting on any support.

I claim:

1. In combination with a seam buster having a pedestal and having an oscillating head mounted thereon for movement about a horizontal axis and carrying a pair of bucks for sleeving thereover the respective leg portions of a pair of pants, said bucks having pressing faces on opposite sides thereof for backing the respective inner and outer seams of said leg portion-s, and said bucks being mounted on said head in spaced-apart parallel relation with the pressing faces located on opposite sides of the axis of rotation of the head, and having means for effecting oscillation of the head; an iron lifter comprising an upright; a horizontal rod having one end fixed in said upright, said rod overlying said bucks; a trolley reciprocably mounted on said rod; an air cylinder pivotally suspended from said trolley; a piston in said cylinder having a piston rod extending below the air cylinder; a steam iron pivotally connected with the lower end of the piston rod; a steam source; a compressed air source; a microswitch on the iron controlling the flow of steam into the iron; a solenoid controlled valve controlling the flow of compressed air into the cylinder below the piston; and said micro-switch simultaneously operating the solenoid valve, whereby when the micro-switch is released the cylinder will normally maintain the iron raised to engage the uppermost buck, and when closed the iron will be lowered by the cylinder to engage the lowermost buck.

2. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, an inclined stiffening tie rod connecting the upright at a point above the first rod to the outer end of the first rod.

3. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, said trolley comprising a vertical plate disposed beside the rod; pairs of spaced grooved rollers journaled on the plate disposed above and below the rod and adapted to traverse the rod, said plate having a top flange overlying the upper pair of rollers; and conveying straps on the plate intermediate the rollers carrying a pivot bolt for th upper end of the cylinder.

4. In a combination as set forth in claim 1, a second horizontal rod having one end anchored in said upright and extending at an angle to the axis of the bucks at the side thereof opposite from the operator; and a spring suspended from said rod having an eye at its lower end loosely supporting a looped steam and electric conduit leading from the pedestal to the iron.

5. In combination with a seam buster having a pedestal and having an oscillating head mounted thereon for movement about a horizontal axis and carrying a pair of bucks for sleeving thereover the respective leg portions of a pair of pants, said bucks having pressing faces on opposite sides thereof for backing the respective inner and outer seams of said leg portions and said bucks being mounted on said head in spaced-apart parallel relation with the pressing faces located on opposite sides of the axis of rotation of the head and having means for effecting oscillation of the head; an iron lifter comprising an upright; a vertical adjustable sleeve on said upright; a horizontal rod having one end fixed in said sleeve, said rod overlying said bucks; a trolley reciprocably mounted on said rod; an air cylinder pivotally suspended from said trolley; a piston in said cylinder having a piston rod extending below the air cylinder; a steam iron pivotally connected with the lower end of the piston rod; a steam source; a compressed air source; a micro-switch on the iron controlling the flow of steam into the iron; a solenoid controlled valve controlling the flow of compressed air into the cylinder below the piston; and said microswitch simultaneously operating the solenoid valve, whereby when the micro-switch is released the cylinder will normally maintain the iron raised to engage the uppermost buck, and when closed the iron will be lowered by the cylinder to engage the lowermost buck.

6. In a combination as set forth in claim 5, an inclined stiffening tie rod connecting the sleeve at a point above the first rod to the outer end of the first rod.

7. In a combination as set forth in claim 5, said trolley comprising a vertical plate disposed beside the rod; pairs of spaced grooved rollers journaled on the plate disposed above and below the rod and adapted to traverse the rod, said plate having a top flange overlying the upper pair of rollers, and conveying straps on the plate intermediate the rollers carrying a pivot bolt for the upper end of the cylinder.

8. In a combination as set forth in claim 5, a second horizontal rod having one end anchored in said sleeve and extending at an angle to the axis of the bucks at the side thereof opposite from the operator; and a spring suspended from said rod having an eye at its lower end loosely supporting a looped steam and electric conduit leading from the pedestal to the iron.

9. An iron lifter for a seam buster having a pair of bucks for sleeving thereover the respective leg portions of a pair of trousers and for backing the respective inner and outer seams of said leg portions, said bucks being mounted in spaced-apart parallel relation with pressing faces located on opposite sides thereof and having means for effecting oscillation of the bucks, comprising an upright; a vertical adjustable sleeve on said upright; a horizontal rod having one end fixed in said sleeve, said rod overlying said bucks; a trolley reciprocably mounted on said rod; an air cylinder pivotally suspended from said trolley; a piston in said cylinder having a piston rod extending below the air cylinder; a steam iron pivotally connected with the lower end of the piston rod; a steam source; a compressed air source; a micro-switch on the iron controlling the flow of steam into the iron; a solenoid controlled valve controlling the flow of compressed air into the cylinder below the piston; and said microswitch simultaneously operating the solenoid valve, whereby when the micro-switch is released the cylinder will normally maintain the iron raised to engage the uppermost buck, and when closed the iron will be lowered by the cylinder to engage the lowermost buck.

10. In an iron lifter as set forth in claim 9, an inclined stiffening tie rod connecting the upright at a point above the first rod to the outer end of the first rod.

11. In an iron lifter as set forth in claim 9, said trolley comprising a vertical plate disposed beside the rod; pairs of spaced grooved rollers journaled on the plate above and below the rod and adapted to traverse the rod, said plate having a top flange overlying the upper pair of rollers, and conveying straps on the plate intermediate the rollers carrying a pivot bolt for the upper end of the cylinder.

12. In an iron lifter as set forth in claim 9, a second horizontal rod having one end anchored in said upright and extending at an angle to the axis of the bucks at the side thereof opposite from the operator; and a spring suspended from said rod having an eye at its lower end loosely supporting a looped steam and electric conduit leading to the iron.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,178,232 4/1916 Hamilton 3842 1,566,043 12/1925 Simmons 38-42 3,366,292 1/1968 Thompson 22373 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.-R. 38-141; 223'-73 

